John McMurtry wrote his will September 6, 1790, and it was proved in the Mercer County Court in April of 1791.  He fought at the Battle of Blue Licks in Kentucky in 1782, and was captured by the Indians and held captive for about a year.  In October of 1790 he was killed during the Miami Campaign against the northern Indians – evidently wrote this will due to his leaving for battle.  Three years later his widow, Mary Todd Hutton McMurtry, married Lewis Rose, who fought with her husband at the Battle of Blue Licks.  If you missed yesterday’s post about Memorial Acre at Fort Harrod you can find out more about the McMurty and Lewis families.

Will Book 1, Mercer County, Pages 52-53

In the name of God, amen.  I, John McMurtry, of Mercer County and state of Virginia, being in perfect health praised be God, do make this my last will and testament as followeth.

I do give my son James seventy-five acres of land on the west of my father-in-law and north of John Simmons land.  I give my son Alexander McMurtry seventy-five acres of land joining the Widow Woods on the south and also from

the north-east corner of my survey, and to extend west and south for quantity so as not to take any of the improvement where I now live.  Also to Samuel I give one hundred acres joining on the west of my survey and to include a spring on that side and to my son William I give a mulatto boy called Lige and to my son John I give seventy-five acres of land on the east side of Seder Run and to my son Joseph I give the place where I now live, beginning at the east end and including the improvement and to my daughter Mary I give a Negro girl called Anny and to my wife, Mary, I give a Negro woman and the movable estate and also the house and improvements for the raising and schooling of the children till Joseph is of age and the half of the improvement during her life and my wife I make sole executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 6^th day of September in the year of our Lord 1790.

                                                                   John McMurtry

William McKee, William Gordon, Henry Bishong

Mercer County                        April Court 1791

This last will and testament of John McMurtry, deceased, was exhibited into court and proved by the oaths of William McKee and William Gordon, two subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.

                                                Teste. Thomas Allin, C. C.